Recycling Proves a Lifesaver

Coinciding with the first day of Queensland school holidays, Wet’n’Wild Water World today unveiled Coca-Cola Amatil’s new interactive recycling system:

Coca-Cola Amatil will donate 5c for every PET bottle placed in recycling bins within Wet’n’Wild Water World to Surf Life Saving Queensland, up to the value of $10,000. The infrastructure was launched amid a sea of little nippers and lifesavers from Surf Life Saving Queensland who were given free entry into the park this morning, with Ironman Stuart Snell in attendance to show his support.

The initiative aims to promote a positive change in consumer recycling behaviour, a beneficial lesson for the young children who enjoy Wet’n’Wild Water World, encouraging them to adopt positive environmental habits at an early age.

As visitors recycle their Mount Franklin and Coca-Cola bottles through the Coca-Cola cut-out in the beach-themed interactive recycling station they will help to generate funds to support training and education initiatives for Surf Life Saving Queensland and to purchase equipment for high need clubs.

Ian Sippel, Queensland State Sales Manager for Coca-Cola Amatil, said “Coca-Cola Amatil’s recycling partnership with Warner Village Theme Parks provides great opportunities for the public to recycle their empty Mount Franklin and Coca-Cola bottles while visiting Wet’n’Wild in Queensland. We acknowledge that Australians are great recyclers at home but there is big opportunity to improve consumer participation in recycling when they are out and about. Coca-Cola Amatil recognises that industry, Government and the public each have a role to play.

“The development of this fun and interactive recycling station encourages people to recycle when away from home and has been developed in a way that also generates funds to support Surf Life Saving Queensland. Coca-Cola Amatil recognises the beach is an important place for residents and visitors to Queensland, and safety on the beaches is paramount. We are proud to assist in the funding of equipment for Surf Life Saving.”

Surf Life Saving Queensland Chief Executive Officer John Brennan said the support of community partners such as Wet’n’Wild and Coca-Cola Amatil was vital to the organisation’s ability to raise awareness and funds for its volunteer lifesaving services.

“Each year thousands of volunteer surf lifesavers dedicate countless hours of their time patrolling Queensland beaches, and this service would not be possible without the invaluable support of important partners such as Coca-Cola Amatil and Wet ‘n’ Wild,” Mr Brennan said.

“Importantly, through community initiatives such as this, Surf Life Saving Queensland will continue to move closer to reaching our goal of zero preventable deaths on our State’s beaches,” he said.

Village Roadshow Theme Park’s Wet’n’Wild Water World rolled out its public recycling initiative in March this year, which sees more than 1,000 bottles diverted from landfill each day. The recycling bins at Wet’n’Wild have the potential to divert six tonnes of waste from landfill annually and the park is proud to support this initiative to drive funds to Surf Life Saving Queensland.

Bob White from Village Roadshow Theme Parks says, “This interactive initiative is really exciting because it involves participation from the wider community in a fun and enjoyable way. It’s a great opportunity for guests of any age who are visiting Wet’n’Wild to get actively involved in recycling while having a fun time doing it”.

This initiative is part of a broader “away from home” recycling program supported by major beverage companies and their packaging suppliers through the Australian Food and Grocery Council’s Packaging Stewardship Forum. New systems have also been installed at other Queensland entertainment venues such as Movie World, Dairy Farmers Stadium, Skilled Park Stadium, The Gabba, Suncorp Stadium, Ballymore Stadium, Cairns Convention Centre, Gold Coast Convention Centre, Brisbane Entertainment Centre and the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre.